Saturday, July 25, 2015

Bratz was a playline fashion doll that threatened Barbie sales - maybe even surpassed them - when they first came out in 2001. Designed by Carter Bryant, a former Mattel employee, with 10" bodies, huge heads, heavily made up and dressed in what looked like the then current street style, they were an instant hit with girls that were bored with more conservative Barbie dolls and wanted something more like them to play with. They were so successful that Mattel issued its own line, My Scene. The battle reached its apex in 2004, when Mattel sued MGA (the Bratz maker) for copying, alleging that their designer was still working for Mattel when he came up with the concept. After a lot of legal wrangling, MGA was ordered to pull Bratz from selves. Even though the decision was later reversed, the damage had been done. Bratz sales went into a slump.

The line did try to come back once again. back in 2010, changing the size of the bodies (12"), new logos and slogans, but it did not make any waves. There were even complaints about quality being inferior to previous product. After some time, the company pulled back all lines in 2014 to overhaul the dolls and re-launch this year. As the tastes of their target group have shifted drastically, with the success of lines such as Monster High and Ever After High, they have some serious competition to beat. Not to mention the avalanche that Frozen dolls have been since that franchise surfaced.

I was never a fan of doll lines like this, so I cannot say if the attempt to brink back this line will be successful or not. MGA is suing Mattel for industrial espionage now (they filed a lawsuit back in 2014) so there are still issues to be worked out on the business side of things. MGA is trying to open up the line to social media as well, like instagram and youtube. They revamped their website too (see photo above) but it's weirdly devoid of product photos so far. There's even an app for smartphones. After this first wave, MGA is releasing at least three more waves until Christmas.

Saturday, July 18, 2015

It's not the first time that the talented Ayal Armon collaborates with JAMIEshow. He did a small collection for 16" ladies for the company a while ago, still available on their website. This time, for IFDC, he decided to cater for the big boys. The collection was so successful that it is now sold out except one outfit, the first on the list below. Modern design and high quality plus very limited quantities are to blame for the speed they were bought.

A dark pink form fitting t-shirt. Made of mesh spandex. Closes in the back with snaps. Low ride low crotch loose pants. The pants are made of dark brown and off white light weight linen. The front has a symmetrical closure and two side pockets. The pants are fully lined and had wide belt loops. Finishing the outfit is a sharp looking hip length jacket. The jacket is made of off white gold metallic linen has two front welt pockets and is decorated with buttons. The jacket is fully lined.

A muscle t shirt form fitting and as cool as it gets. Made of grey mesh spandex. Closes in the back with snaps. Form fitting pants, snuggly fit around the waist and hips has two pockets. The pants are made of light weight black linen, fully lined, and are decorated with buttons on the belt loops. Finishing the look is a hip length pink linen jacket. The jacket has narrow collar, two front pockets with pocket flaps and is decorated with buttons. The jacket is fully lined.

A sharp looking outfit, inspired by street fashion but taken to a sophisticated high fashion level. Off white sleeveless shirt. A sharp looking shirt with collar, welt pocket and front buttons. The shirt is made of handkerchief linen and is lined with the same fabric. Low ride baggy pants, with dropped crotch, a sophisticated take on low ride street wear. The pants are made of black light linen and are fully lined, has two deep pleats in the front and back, square pockets opening and decorated with buttons in the front and back. Finishing the look is a waist cropped jacket with low collar and straps along the front and around the cuffs. The jacket is made of terra cotta metallic linen, has two welt pockets in the front and is fully lined.

Lori Lyon is the person behind Madeleine Rose Couture, making one of a kind outfits for fashion dolls. Her work has been featured in most fashion doll magazines and collectors from all over the world seek out her unique creations. She also has a blog where she writes about her creative process. She collaborated with JAMIEshow for an exclusive collection featuring five ensembles in a limited edition for 16" dolls. The designs look great, even though the patterned fabrics are not always to my taste, and the detailing looks fantastic. The chantilly lace sheath, the pink ensemble and the white gown look best.

SOPHISTICATED DRESS & COATDesigned by Lori Lyon of Madeleine Rose Couture Specifically for JAMIEshow. Ltd. Edition 20$175.00Doll not included.Pre Order - August DeliveryCan be worn by any JAMIEshow Dolls, including Gene Collection. Will also fit IT 16" Dolls and Numina.

Sophisticate- Pink gaberdine sleeveless dress with midriff band and black ribbon band with bow at waist. Matching coat with band collar and pockets, black button detail. Fully lined in silk habotai, dress has zipper back closure.

SASSY DRESSDesigned by Lori Lyon of Madeleine Rose Couture Specifically for JAMIEshow. Ltd. Edition 10$150.00Doll not included.Pre Order - August DeliveryCan be worn by any JAMIEshow Dolls, including Gene Collection. Will also fit IT 16" Dolls and Numina.

Sassy- Black embroidered mesh day dress with surplice neckline and full scallop hemline skirt. Lined in black mesh with zipper back closure and faux tie accent.

EXUBERANCE DRESSDesigned by Lori Lyon of Madeleine Rose Couture Specifically for JAMIEshow. Ltd. Edition 10$225.00Doll not included.Pre Order - August DeliveryCan be worn by any JAMIEshow Dolls, including Gene Collection. Will also fit IT 16" Dolls and Numina.

CHANTILLY DRESSDesigned by Lori Lyon of Madeleine Rose Couture Specifically for JAMIEshow. Ltd. Edition 10$225.00Doll not included.Pre Order - August DeliveryCan be worn by any JAMIEshow Dolls, including Gene Collection. Will also fit IT 16" Dolls and Numina.

Chantilly- Ivory silk dupioni sheath dress with black lace overlay has spaghetti straps and is fully lined in silk habotai. Zipper back closure. Black silk chiffon tie is banded under bust to tie in a bow at back

IFDC is not just the convention dolls - other doll companies release dolls specifically designed for the convention. One of them is JAMIEshow, which released one doll (plus outfits) and two clothing lines,in collaboration with other creators, for the convention. Let's check them out one by one, in this and subsequent posts. First up, the Litle Black Dress collection.

JAMIEshow's newest character sculpt Audry was introduced at IFDC in July of 2015. A limited quantity of dolls was available at the convention, the rest are on sale on-line. Audry is representative of an era when everyday fine dressing was a style of it's own. She is wearing a little black dress and black stiletto patent leather pumps. Doll comes with both wig cap and rooted wig cap, cigarette holder, stockings, little black dress and a doll stand. She is made of JAMIEshow J-smooth Resin ™. Dolls will ship end of July beginning of August.

She's obviously an Audrey Hepburn homage, although she's not a good likeness. The style though is perfect. Beautiful doll and an unusual face, in that elegant late 50s style that we love.

Little Black Dress Collection dressesPre Order - August DeliveryWill fit all JAMIEshow dolls as well as JAMIEshow Gene Dolls.Will also fit IT 16" Dolls, and Numina dolls.

This is shown as Sophisticated on the photos but the site names it Tiffany. $75.00.

Sunday, July 12, 2015

The International Fashion Doll Convention, organized by the incredible Jim Faraone (if you do not recognize the name, you have a lot of reading and searching to do regarding fashion doll collecting), took place in Las Vegas, this past weekend, with the convention dolls being offered once more by Integrity Toys. They are usually very covetable dolls, as they are limited editions, and only available to attendees, with a very small portion offered via lottery for sale to the W Club members. The convention theme was "42nd Street - Dolls on Broadway, so the IT design team picked the famous musical "My Fair Lady"and interpreted some of the costumes for the convention dolls. Let's see how they turned out. They are using Nu Face sculpts and bodies as part of the Nu Fantasy line.

Without you is a 12.5-inch fully articulated vinyl doll with long rooted hair and hand applied eyelashes. She wears a long, lace overlaid, ultra fitted gown with contrasting band at the hem. Exclusive to the 2015 IFDC Convention, this doll also includes a doll stand. For adult collectors ages 15 and up.

Someone mixed their song titles - Without You is the song Eliza sings almost at the end, where she feels totally free and independent from Professor Higgins, the day after the ball. In the film, she is wearing the pink frilly dress, whereas here we see black lave overlaid on nude lining. Great outfit apart from the white lace hem (why?), it does not particularly remind me of any outfit from the film (and most Broadway productions imitate those outfits. Beaton had done the original theatrical London and Broadway costumes as well), except the striped detail at the leg slit and the shoes that is lifted off the horse-race scene magnificent Beaton dress. Another Erin though? There was one already at the latest Nu Face release. And she reminds me a bit of the Erin from last year's convention. Love the huge ring.

Wouldn't It Be Loverly? is a 12.5-inch fully articulated vinyl doll with rooted hair and hand applied eyelashes. She wears a pink dress with embroidered bodice and tulle overlaid skirt. Exclusive to the 2015 IFDC Convention, this doll also includes a doll stand. For adult collectors ages 15 and up. There;s a warning from Integrity Toys about the doll's hair:even though they are fully rooted, IT does not recommend taking her hair down as they cannot guarantee that the hair cut will be even and that taking the hair down may ruin this look and will void her one-year warranty. So be careful with that.

Again the song title does not match the outfit inspiration. This pink creation clearly is inspired by the pink fluffy confection worn by Eliza at the aforementioned "Without You"scene, while she is wearing the flower lady outfit (in green) while singing this song. The dress looks very sixties (the hair style adds to this feeling) and the colour looks like a match with the film outfit - but that's where any similarities end, One of the twins finally makes an appearance - which makes me wonder why they did not use Lilith for the previous outfit instead of Erin. She looks a bit awkward posing like that, I wonder how the dress looks if the doll is posed in a more normal position. Too simple shoes compared with the other dolls though.

Danced All Night is a 12.5-inch fully articulated vinyl doll with rooted hair and hand applied eyelashes. She wears a white and silver gown. Exclusive to the 2015 IFDC Convention, this doll also includes a doll stand. For adult collectors ages 15 and up. Again, Integrity advises collectors against taking the hair down for this doll as it is not cut even and will void the one-year warranty.

Easily the best doll of the bunch, and not because of the sculpt. Of course it is inspired by Eliza's white outfit at the ball. The dress cut and the hair do and make up are perfect. The fabrics used not so. I'd much rather see this in a white fabric like the yellow one used for On The Rise Elise from last year's FR collection and, instead of micro-sequins, the top band could have bead embroidery like the collar of Nostalgia Dania. The higher price of the doll is not justified for me looking at the complete set, unless the fabric for the dress is that much more expensive (which I doubt). I love the shoes.

These are pictures of prototype dolls. As always, the exact colors and the actual production dolls may vary slightly.All photos and information contained herein is copyrighted Integrity Toys, Inc. and Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC 2015 and may not be reprinted or disseminated without express written permission.

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About Me

I am a designer, working in an architectural firm. We design and construct stands for exhibitions, museums (permanent and temporary exhibitions as well as the buildings themselves), offices, shops, showrooms and special installations as well as public spaces. The company I work for has a website, www.tetragon.gr , where you can see more of the work we do. I have also studied fashion design and as a civil engineer for some years - but I never got around getting my degree. The world of design was much more appealing to me and finally won me over completely. I really enjoy doing what I do! I live and work in Thessaloniki, although my job has taken me to many places, in Greece and abroad. I enjoy meeting people, getting to know them and learn from them - it makes life so much more interesting!